Self-contained air conditioning apparatus for use in the roof hatch of a railway refrigerator car or the like



ERlCKS ON ET AL Oct. 15, 1957 2,809,812

. SELF-CONTAINED AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE ROOF HATCH OFA RAILWAY REFRIGERATOR CAR OR THE LIKE Filed March 9. 1955 6Sheets-Sheet 1 JINVENTOR.

15. 1957 M. E. ERICKSON ETAL 2,809,312

SELF-CONTAINED AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE ROOF HATCH OF ARAILWAY REFRIGERATOR CAR OR THE LIKE Filed March 9. 1955 e Sheets-Sheet,2

R &

IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 15, 1957 M. E. ERICKSON ETAL 2,809,812

' SELF-CONTAINED AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE ROOF HATCH OFA RAILWAY REFRIGERATOR CAR OR THE LIKE Filed March 9. 1955 6Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Oct. 15. 1957 M. E. ERICKSON ET AL SELF-CONTAINED AIR CONDITIONINGAPPARATUS FOR USE IN THE ROOF HATCH OF A RAILWAY REFRIGERATOR CAR OR THELIKE Filed March 9. 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. #22 WM 5 fb/c/(so/vVV/Lus Oct. 15, 1957 ME. ERICKSON ETAL 2,809,812

SELF-CONTAINED AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE ROOF HATCH OF ARAILWAY REFRIGERATOR CAR OR THE LIKE Filed March 9. 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTOR.

Ma w/vf ffQ/cA so/v BY fQBf/PT 0. KER/v W's-mg? ff W; Z 15 Oct. 15, 1957M. E. ERICKSON ET AL 2,809,312

SELF-CONTAINED AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE ROOF HATCH OF ARAILWAY REFRIGERATOR CAR OR THE LIKE Filed March 9. 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet6 INVENTOR.

ROBERT U. Kane/v SELF-CONTAINED AIR CONDITIONING APPARA- TUS FOR USE INTHE ROOF HATCH OF A RAlL- WAY REFRIGERATOR CAR OR THE LIKE Melvin E.Erickson, Hales Corners, and Robert D. Kern and Newton H. Willis,Waukesha, Wis., assignors to Waukesha Motor Company, Waukesha, Win, acorporation of Wisconsin Application March 9, 1955, Serial No. 493,172

Claims. (Cl. 257-7) The present invention relates generally to apparatusfor conditioning the air in an enclosed space. More particularly, theinvention relates to that type of air conditioning apparatus which isdesigned primarily for use in connection with a railway refrigerator carwith hatches in the corner portions of its roof, comprises a motordriven compressor, a condenser, a receiver, and an evaporator, andserves when in operation to reduce the temperature of the air in thecar.

One object of the invention is to provide an air con ditioning apparatuswhich is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over,previously designed apparatus of the same general type and ischaracterized by high efiiciency, a novel and compact arrangement ofparts and the fact that it is in the form of a self-contained unit whichis designed and constructed removably to fit within any one of the fourhatches in the car roof to the end that it may be readily mounted inplace and also removed for repair or replacement purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained airconditioning apparatus of the type and character under consideration inwhich the various operating parts are disposed within a sectionalhousing structure in the form of a comparatively large box-like upperhousing and a smaller box-like lower housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air conditioningapparatus of the last mentioned character in which the comparativelylarge box-like upper housing of the sectional housing structure isadapted to be disposed exteriorly of the railway refrigerator car withwhich the apparatus is associated, has the motor driven compressor, thecondenser and the receiver mounted therein, and embodies on the bottomwall thereof a depending downwardly tapered continuous extension whichis shaped conformably to, and fits removably in, the selected hatch inthe roof of the car and is surrounded by a gasket in order to effecthermetic sealing of the hatch when the apparatus is in its normal oroperative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained airconditioning apparatus of the aforementioned character in which theupper housing of the sectional housing structure has grille-equippedopenings in its side walls and embodies between and in parallel relationwith the side walls thereof a partition which divides the interior ofthe upper housing into an inner compartment for the motor drivencompressor and the receiver and an outer compartment for the condenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air conditioningapparatus of the last mentioned character in which the partition of thecomparatively large box-like upper housing of the sectional housing isprovided with two side-by-side but spaced apart openings in which aremounted a pair of motor driven fans which in connection with operationthereof serve to draw outside or ambient air into the outer compartmentvia the grille-equipped opening in the outer side wall of the upperhousingand atenft ice then past or through the condenser and also toforce the air so that it flows through the inner compartment and pastthe motor driven compressor and the receiver and then is exhausted toatmosphere via the grille-equipped opening in the inner side wall of theupper housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air conditioningapparatus of the character under consideration in which the top wall ofthe exteriorly disposed upper housing of the housing structure isremovably secured in place so that it may be removed to provide accessto the inner and outer compartments in the upper housing, and

embodies an upstanding attaching device which may be connected to thehook of an overhead hoist in connection with mounting and removal of theapparatus and is so positioned with respect to the center of gravity ofthe apparatus that when the apparatus is suspended by the hoist it willautomatically assume a truly upright or vertical position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained airconditioning apparatus of the type and character under consideration inwhich the smaller boxlike lower housing of the sectional housingstructure is adapted to be disposed wholly within the interior of therailway refrigerator car with which the apparatus is associated, has theevaporator mounted in it, and embodies removable connections between itsupper end and the lower end of the depending gasket-surrounded extensionon the bottom wall of the upper housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air conditioningapparatus of the type under consideration in which the interiorlypositioned lower housing of the sectional housing structure embodies agrille-equipped opening in its back wall, i. e., the wall that faces theadjacent end wall of the car and embodies in its front wall an openingin which is mounted a motor driven fan which in connection withoperation thereof serves to circulate the air within the car so that itflows first into the lower housing via the grille-equipped opening inthe back wall, thenpast the evaporator and then through the opening inthe front wall back into the car interior.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained airconditioning apparatus of the aforementioned type and character in whichthe lower housing of the sectional housing structure is provided withrod variety electric heating elements which are positioned between theevaporator and the motor driven fan in the opening in the front wall ofthe lower housing and operate when energized while the motor drivencompressor is inoperative to heat or increase the temperature of the airin the railway refrigerator car with which the apparatus is associated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a self-containedair conditioning apparatus which effectively and efliciently fulfillsits intended purpose and is so designed and constructed that it may bereadily applied to, and removed from, a standard or conventional railwayrefrigerator car and occupies but a comparatively small space.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages andcharacteristics of the present self-contained air conditioning apparatuswill be apparent from a consideration of the following detaileddescription.

The invention consists in the several novel features which arehereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at theconclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification ordisclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side view of a railway refrigerator car having applied toone of the roof hatches thereof a self contained air conditioningapparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the car;

Figure 3 is a rear perspective of the self-contained air conditioningapparatus;

Figure 4 is a front perspective of the apparatus, showing in their openposition the doors of certain door-closed boxes which are mounted on thefront wall of the upper housing of the sectional housing structure andserve, respectively, to house gauges and electrical control andoperating devices;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top perspective, showing the upper housingwith the top wall thereof removed and illustrating the arrangement andpositioning of the motor driven compressor and the receiver in the innercompartment in the upper housing;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 66 ofFigure l, certain parts of the self-contained air conditioning apparatusbeing shown in section and other parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on the line7,-7 of Figure 6 and illustrating in detail the manner in which theapparatus is removably mounted in the selected hatch in the roof of therailway refrigerator car with which the apparatus is associated; and

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 88 of Figure 7 andshowing the arrangement and location of the motor driven compressor andthe receiver in the inner compartment in the upper housing, and thedesign and construction of the motor driven fans for drawing outside airinto the outer compartment via the grilleequipped opening in the outerside wall of the upper housing and then past the condenser and also toforce the air through the inner compartment and around the motor drivencompressor and the receiver and then back to atmosphere via thegrille-equipped opening in the inner side wall ofthe upper housing.

The air conditioning apparatus that is illustrated in the drawingsconstitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It isessentially a self-contained unit or unitary structure and is designedprimarily for use in connection with a standard or conventional railwayrefrigerator car 10. The purpose of the apparatus is to maintain the airin the interior of the car at a predetermined temperature by cooling orheating depending upon the temperature or condition of the outside air.The car 10 is of the type that is currently in use in connection withthe transportation of perishable comestibles, such, for example, asfruit, vegetables and frozen food products. It is adapted to travel on arailway track 11 and comprises a horizontally elongated body 12 and apair of wheelequipped trucks 13 under the end portions of the bottom ofthe car body. The trucks are mounted to swivel or turn with respect tothe body and the wheels of the truck are adapted to travel on the railsof the track 11. The central portions of the sides of the body havedoor-closed openings 14 through whichthe interior of the body of the carmay be loaded or unloaded. The roof of the car body is designated in thedrawing by the reference numeral 15 and has the side portions of its topsurface downwardly and outwardly inclined as shown in Figure 6 of thedrawing. Over the central portion of the roof is a longitudinallyextending walk 16 to permit an attendant or trainman to travel back andforth over the car. In the corner portions of the roof of the car bodyare four rectangular hatches '17. The latter are normally closed bycovers 18 and are normally for the purpose of permitting ice to beintroduced into bunkers in the end portions of the interior of the carbody 12. The top surface of the car roof 15 is covered by metallicsheets 19 as well understood in the art, and the hatches 17 are formedby outer rectangular frames 20 and inner rectangular frames 21. Theouter hatch frames 20 are formed of stamped metal outwardly extendingflanges 23 of the outer hatch frames 20 rest on, and are suitablysecured to, the metallic sheets 19. The inner hatch frames 21 are in theform of metallic stampings and comprise outwardly extending rectangularwalls 25 and depending rectangular walls 26. The outer marginal portionsof the outwardly extending rectangular walls 25 underlie the inwardlyextending flanges 24 of the outer frames 20 and are suitably secured tothe sheets 19 as shown in Figure 6. The depending rectangular walls 26of the inner hatch frames 21 have the upper marginal portions thereofconnected to the inner marginal portions of the outwardly extendingwalls 25 and are downwardly tapered. The outer hatch frames 20 are downwardly and outwardly inclined in conformity with the slope orinclination of the side portions of the top surface of the roof 15. 7

As hereinafter described, the air conditioning apparatus is electricallyenergized or motivated. in order to furnish current to the apparatus,the railway refrigerator car 10 is provided with an engine-generatorunit 27 (Fig ure 1). The latter as shown in Figure l is mounted underthe bottom of the car body 12 and consists of an internal combustionengine 28 and a generator 29. The engine serves as the prime mover forthe generator 29 and is supplied with fuel from a tank 30 under thebottom of the body 12 of the railway refrigerator car 10. A battery 31is disposed in close proximity to the engine-generator unit 27. It issuitably mounted under the bottom of the car body 12 and serves as asource of electric current for the starting motor for the engine 28.

The air conditioning apparatus is associated with one of the hatches 17in the roof 15 of the car body and may be used alone or with a similarapparatus depending upon the outside temperature conditions to which thecar 10 is subjected. If the apparatus is used with a similar apparatus,it is contemplated that the two apparatuses will be associated withdiagonally opposite hatches as shown in Figure 2. But one airconditioning apparatus will be described and in connection with thedescription it will be referred to as being associated with or mountedin the selected hatch. As its principal components or parts, theapparatus comprises a sectional housing structure 32 (Figures 3 and 4),an electric motor 33, a compressor 34, a condenser 35, a receiver 36, anevaporator 37 and an electric heater 38. As heretofore pointed out,theapparatus as a whole is essentially a self-contained unit, i. e., itisof unitary character.

The sectional housing structure 32 of the air conditioning apparatus isdesigned and constructed removably to fit within the selected hatch 17in the roof 15 of the body of the railway refrigerator car 19 to the endthat it may be readily mounted in place and also removed either forrepair or replacement. it consists of a comparatively large box-likeupper housing 39" and smaller box-like lower housing 40. The upperhousing 39 is disposed .exteriorly of the roof of the car body andserves as an enclosure for the electric motor 33, the compressor 34, thecondenser 35 and the receiver 36. The lower housing 40 is disposedwholly within the interior of the car body 12 and serves as an enclosurefor the evaporator 37 and the electric heater 33.

The comparatively large box-like upper housing 39 of the housingstructure 32 is of materially greater size than the selected hatch 17and comprises an inner side wall 41, an outer side wall 42, a back wall43, a front wall 44, a bottom wall 45, a partition 46 and a top wall 47.The partition and the aforementioned walls with the exception of the topwall-t7 are in, the form of metallic stampings. The inner side wall 41of the upper housing 39 is rectangular and extends truly vertically. Ithas its end margins welded or otherwise suitably connected to the innerend margins of the back wall 43 and the front wall 44. and embodies asubstantially full sized opening 48 in which is mounted a grille 49 ofexpanded metal. The top margin of the inner side wall ll is providedwith an integral inwardly extending flange 50 and the bottom margin ofthe-inner side wall is provided with an integral outwardly extendingflange St. The outer side wall 42 is rectangular and extends trulyvertically. It is spaced outwards an appreciable distance from the innerside wall 41 and has its end margins welded or otherwise fixedly securedto the outer end margins of the back wall 43 and the front wall 44. Thetop margin of the outer side wall 42 is provided with an integralinwardly extending flange 52 and the bottom margin of the outer sidewall is provided with an integral outwardly extending flange 53. Theouter side wall 42 is provided with a substantially full sizedrectangular opening 54 which is defined by an integral outwardlyextending rectangular flange 55. Within the opening 54 is a grille 56which is formed by a series of vertically extending equi-distantlyspaced hollow rods 56A the upper ends of which are fixedly connected tothe upper portion of the flange 55 and the lower ends of which arefixedly connected to the lower portion of the flange. The back wallextends vertically and together with the front wall 44 serves to holdthe inner and outer side walls in laterally spaced relation. It extendstruly vertically and embodies at its top margin an integral inwardlyextending flange 57. The front wall 44 of the upper housing 39 isdisposed in spaced apart and parallel relation with the back wall 43 andembodies at its top margin an integral inwardly extending flange 58. Asshown in Figure 5, the inwardly extending flanges 50, 52, 57 and 58 arecoplanar. The bottom edges of the back and front walls 43 and 44 aredownwardly and outwardly inclined in conformity with the slope orinclination of the subjacent portion of the top surface of the car roof15. The central portion of the front wall 4 is pgovided with a smallsized box i and a large sized box 66. The box 59 serves as an enclosurefor a cluster 59A of pressure and other gauges and is normally closed bya hinged latch-equipped door 61. The box 6% serves as an enclosure forelectrical control and operating devices (not shown) and is normallyclosed by a hinged door 62. which is tightly held in its closed positionby a handle-equipped nut and a stud (see Figure 8). The bottom wall 45of the upper housing 39 is flat and extends downwards and outwards inconformity with the outer frame it) of the selected hatch 17. The innerside margin of the bottom wall 45 underlies and is welded or otherwisefixedly secured to the outwardly extending flange 51 on the bottommargin of the inner side wall 41 and the outer side margin of the bottomwall underlies and is welded or otherwise secured to the outwardlyextending flange 53 on the bottom margin of the outer side wall 42. The

four marginal portions of the bottom wall 45 rest on the upper inwardlyextending flange 24 of the outer frame 20 when the apparatus is in itsoperative position. As best shown in Figures 6 and 7, the bottom wall 45is provided with an integral downwardly extending continuous rectangularflange 63 which is arranged in surrounding relation with the rectangularwall 22 of the outer frame Ztl. The upper housing 3? is releasablysecured in its normal or operative position by way of bolts 64 whichextend through registering holes in the outwardly extending flange 51 onthe bottom margin of the inner side wall 41 and the inner side margin ofthe bottom wall 45. The central portion of the bottom wall is providedwith a rectangular opening 65 and embodies a depending continuousrectangular extension 66. The latter is downwardly tapered in conformitywith, and fits removably in, the downwardly tapered continuousrectangular depending wall 26 of the inner frame 21 of the selectedhatch and is surrounded by a gasket 67 in order to effect hermeticsealing of thes'elected hatch 17 when the apparatus is in its normal oroperative position as shown in the drawings.

The top margin of the extension 66 is formed integrally with the portionof the bottom wall 45 that defines the rectangular opening 65. Thebottom margin of the extension 66 is provided with an integral inwardlyextendingcontinuous flange 63. Associated with the bottom wall 45 of theupper housing 39 is a divider board 69. The latter is formed ofinsulating material and underlies and extends across the inwardlyextending continuous flange 68 on the lower end of the extension 66. Itserves to separate and insulate the interior of the upper housing fromthe interior of the lower housing 40 and has 'ts marginal portionssuitably fixedly secured to the flange 68. Also associated with thedepending extension 66 is a platform 70. The latter is preferably formedof plate metal and extends truly horizontally. It is located in theupper end portion of the depending extension 66 and has its marginalportions welded to the adjacent portions of the upper end of theextension. The partition 46 of the upper housing 39 extends trulyvertically and is disposed between and in parallel relation with theinner and outer side walls 41 and 42. It divides the interior of theupper housing into an inner compartment 71 and an outer compartment 72and has its end margins welded or otherwise fixedly secured to theadjacent portions of the back and front walls 43 and 44. Formed in theend portions of the partition 45 are two large sized circular holes 73in which are mounted a pair of electric fan assemblies 74. The fanassemblies 74 operate within cylindrical air conduits 75 secured withinthe openings 73. Each fan assembly 74 includes the usual motor casing 76and rotor hub '77 from which there extend radially out wardly a seriesof fan blades 73 which are closely con fined within the respectiveconduit 75. The assemblies 74 serve, when energized, to draw outside airinto the outer compartment 72 via the grille-equipped opening 54 in theouter side wall 42 of the upper housing and force the air through theinner compartment 71 back to atmosphere via the grille-equipped opening49 in the inner side wall ii in order first to cool the condenser 35 andthen to cool the motor 33, the compressor 34 and the receiver 36. Thetop wall 47 of the upper housing 39 is rectangular and normally rests onthe inwardly extending flanges 5t}, 52, 57 and 58 on the top margins ofthe side, back and front walls of the upper housing. It is preferably inthe form of an iron casting and is removably secured in place by way ofbolts 80 which extend downwards through holes in the marginal portionsof the top wall and fit within screw threaded holes in theaforementioned inwardly extending flanges. The upper surface of the topwall is provided with two crossed diagonally extending integralupstanding ribs 81 for top wall reenforcing purposes. On the centralportion of the top wall of the upper housing 39 is an upstanding eyebolt 32 the screw threaded shank of which projects downwards and fitswithin a screw threaded hole in the top wall. The eye bolt constitutesan attaching device which may be connected to the hook of an overheadhoist in connection with mounting and removal of the apparatus as awhole. It is positioned in vertical alignment with the center of gravityor mass of the apparatus in order that when the apparatus is suspendedby the hoist it will automatically assume a truly upright or verticalposition. When the top wall 47 is removed after withdrawing the bolts80, access may be had to the inner and outer compartments 71 and 72. 1

The smaller box-like lower housing 40 of the sectional housing structure32 is located directly beneath the upper housing 39 and as hereinbeforepointed out is disposed wholly within the car body 12 when the apparatusis in its operative position. It is formed for the most part of platemetal stampings and comprises a pair of parallel spaced apart side walls33, a back wall 84, a front wall and a bottom wall 86. The side walls 83extend verti: cally and are disposed in parallel relation with the innerand outer side walls 41 and 42 of the upper housing 39 The centralportions of the side walls 83 are provided with large sized rectangularopenings 87 (Fig. 3) and these openings are normally closed by way ofrectangular plates 88. The latter are removably secured in place by wayof screws 89 which extend through the marginal portions of the plates 88into screw threaded holes in the portions of the side walls 33 thatdefine the openings 87. When the plates 33 are removed, the openings 87provide access to the interior of the lower housing 40. The back wall 84of the lower housing 46 extends between, and is welded or otherwisefixedly secured to, the rear side gins of the side walls 83. The centralportion of the back wall 84 is provided with a large rectangular opening90 in which is mounted a grille 31; of expanded metal. The front wall 35of the lower housing extends between, and is welded or otherwise fixedlysecured to, the front side margins of the sides 83. It is provided inits central portion with a rectangular opening 92 and embodies aroundthe opening an integral continuous inwardly extending rectangular flange93. Extending across the corner portions of the flange 93 are fourdiagonally extending channel bars 94 which are welded or otherwisefixedly secured to the inner edge of the flange )3. Within the opening9.2 in the front wall 85 of the lower housing 4% is an electric fanassembly 95. The latter is similar in design and construction to the fanassemblies 7 4 and comprises a motor casing 97 supported by radialstruts 191, and a rotor hub 98 carrying fan blades 192;, the latteroperating within an air conduit 96, the assembly operating to draw airfrom the interior of the car body 12 into the interior of the lowerhousing 40 via the grilleequipped opening 90 in the back wall 84 andthen to discharge the air back into the car interior. Mounted on theouter end portion of the air conduit 96 is centrally aperturedrectangular plate 103. The latter is shaped conformably to, and servesas a closure for, the rectangular opening 92 in the front wall 85 of thelower housing 4-0 and has the inner edge thereof welded to the front endportion of the frame 96. The bottom wall 86 of the lower housing 4' isrectangular and has its marginal portions connected to the bottommargins of the side, back and front walls of the lower housing. Theinner side wall of the lower housing 30 is higher than the outer sidewall as shown in Figure 6. The top margins of the back wall 84 and thefront wall 85 are downwardly and outwardly inclined in order that theylie in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the integral inwardlyextending continuous flange 68 on the bottom margin of the extension 66.On the upper corners of the lower housing are four gusset-type plates134 which are welded in place and directly underlie the corners of thedivider board 69. The lower housing at) is removably connected to theupper housing 39 by way of bolts M5 which as shown in Figure 6 extendthrough aligned holes in the flange 68, the corner portions of thedivider board 69 and the gusset-type plates 104. The lower housing maybe removed from the upper housing by withdrawing the bolts 105 from theaforementioned holes. Preferably, the space between the divider board 63and the platform 7% is filled with fibre glass for insulating purposes.

The electric motor 33 of the apparatus is located in the innercompartment 71 in the upper housing 39 and is suitably connected toreceive current from the enginedriven generator 29 on the bottom of therailway refrigerator car it As shown in Figures 5 and 8, the motor 33 islocated directly inwards of the large sized box 60 on the front wall 44of the upper housing and comprises a fin-equipped casing 106. The latteris provided with downwardly and outwardly extending feet 107 and theserest on, and are connected by bolts N8 to, the front portion of thefixed platform 76) in the upper end of the depending extension 66 of thebottom wall 45. The motor 33 serves as a prime mover for the compressor34.

The compressor 34 of the apparatus is located in the inner compartment71 directly behind the electric motor 33. It is preferably of the pistontype and comprises a casing 169. The latter is formed integrally withthe motor casing 1% and rests on, and is connected by bolts 11% to, therear portion of the platform 70. The crank or drive shaft of thecompressor is connected to the armature shaft of the motor 33 in orderthat the compressor is driven during operation of the motor. The casing109 of the compressor has a refrigerant inlet 112 associated with it andis provided with a refrigerant outlet 112a.

The condenser 35 of the apparatus is of the air cooled variety and isdisposed in the outer compartment 72 in the upper housing 39 and extendsthroughout the entire ength and height of the outer compartment. Thecondenser 35 is located directly inwards of the grille 56 in the outerside wall 42 of the upper housing 39. The inlet end of the condenser 35is connected by a conduit 115 to the refrigerant outlet 112a of thecasing 109 of the compressor 34.

The receiver 36 is located in the inner compartment 71 directly behindthe compressor 34. It is provided on the bottom portion thereof with abase structure 116 which, as shown in Figure 7, rests on, and isconnected to, the inner rear corner portion of the bottom wall 45. Aconduit 117 extends between, and is connected to, the outlet end of thecondenser 35 and one end of the receiver 36 and serves to deliver thecondensed refrigerant from the air cooled condenser to the receiver.

The evaporator 37 is located in the rear portion of the lower housing 40and consists of a serpentine tube 118 and a series of verticallyextending spaced apart sheet metal cooling fins 119. The cooling finsare arranged in parallel relation with the side walls 83 of the lowerhousing. The evaporator 37 is positioned directly in front of the grille56 in the back wall 84 of the lower housing 40. The inlet end of thetube 118 of the evaporator is connected by a conduit 129 to the receiver36 and the outlet end of said tube is connected by a conduit or suctionline 121 to the refrigerant inlet 112. The conduit extends through holesin the platform 74 and the divider board 68 and includes a filter-drierunit 122 and a plurality of expansion valves 123. The filter-drier unit122 is located in the inner compartment 71 in the upper housing 39 andthe expansion valves 123 are located in the lower housing 40, as shownin Figure 7.

The electric heater 38 of the apparatus is located in the lower housing40 of the housing structure 33 and is positioned between the evaporator37 and the electric fan 95. It serves as a medium or instrumentality forheating the air in the car body 12 when the motor driven compressor 34is not in use or operation and consists of a series of U-shaped rods124. The latter constitute electric resistance elements and are providedwith mounting brackets 125 for securing them in place.

It is contemplated that the electric motor 33, the fans 34 and the fan95 will be in a common circuit which is supplied with current from thegenera-tor 29 and includes a thermostatically controlled switch wherebyit is automatically closed when the air in the car body 12 raises to apredetermined temperature and is automatically opened when the air inthe car body drops to a certain temperature. When such circuit is closedthe apparatus operates to cool the air in the car body. As previouslypointed out, the fans 74 when in operation operate to draw outside airinto the outer compartment 72 via the grille-equipped opening 54 and toforce the air through the inner compartment and then to atmosphere viathe grille-equipped opening 48. As the air flows inwards through theouter compartment, it serves to cool the air cooled condenser 35 and asthe air flows through the inner compartment 71 it serves to cool theelectric motor 33, the compressor 34 and the receiver 36. In connectionwith operation of the fan 95 while current is being supplied to themotor 33 for compressor driving purposes, the air in the car body 12is'circulated continuously past the evaporator 37 and is cooled by thelatter. It is also contemplated thatthe electric heater 38 and the fan95 will be in another circuit which is supplied with current from thegenerator 29 and includes a thermostatically controlled switch wherebyunder certain conditions it is automatically closed when the air in thecar body 12 drops below a predetermined temperature and is automaticallyopened when the air in the car body rises to a predeterminedtemperature. When the heater is in operation as the result of closing ofsuch circuit, the fan 95 circulates the air in the car body past theheater for heating purposes.

The herein described air conditioning apparatus effectively andefliciently fulfills its intended purpose and is characterized by anovel and compact arrangement of parts. By reason of the fact that it isin the nature of a self-contained unit, it may be readily mounted inplace within the selected hatch and also removed for repair orreplacement purposes. Because the grille-equipped openings 48 and 54 areformed in the sides of the upper housing 39 of the housing structure 32the circulation of air through the upper housing is crosswise of thedirection of travel of the railway refrigerator car and hence forward orbackward movement of the car does not impair in any way the operation ofthe fans 74 or the cooling of the motor, generator, condenser andreceiver. 'The apparatus as a whole is of comparatively small size butis capable of producing a substantial amount of cooling or heating.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a refrigerator type vehicle the body of which iselongated and normally closed and has a downwardly tapered hatch in theroof thereof; a selfcontained air conditioning apparatus comprising: avertically elongated housing structure extending downwards through, andmounted removably in, the hatch and consisting of a comparatively largebox-like upper housing in parallel relation with the sides of the carbody positioned normally on the roof and over the hatch, includingspaced apart inner and other side walls, a closed back wall, a frontwall, a closed bottom wall and a top wall, having grille-equippedsubstantially full sized openings in its side walls, and provided on thecentral portion of its bottom wall with a depending tubular downwardlytapered gasket-surrounded extension shaped conformably to, and fittingsnugly and removably within, the hatch, and a small sized box-like lowerhousing of no greater size than the hatch positioned normally within thevehicle'body and beneath the hatch, including four rectangularlyarranged vertical walls, having the upper end thereof connected to thelower end of the extension, and embodying openings in certain of itswalls; a refrigerant compressor mounted in the upper housing adjacent tothe inner side wall and provided with a refrigerant inlet and arefrigerant outlet; an electric motor mounted in the upper housingadjacent to the inner side wall and connected to drive the compressor; avertically extending air cooled condenser mounted in the upper housingadjacent to the outer sidewall and connected to the refrigerant outletof the compressor; a receiver mounted in the upper housing adjacent tosaid inner side wall and connected to the condenser so as to receivecondensed refrigerant therefrom; a vertically extending evaporatormounted in the lower housing; a pair of refrigerant conduits extendingthrough the extension and arranged so that one extends between, and isconnected to, the receiver and the evaporator and the other extendsbetween, and is connected to, the evaporator and the refrigerant inletof the compressor; an electric fan mounted in the central portion of theupper housing and operative when driven to circulate outside air throughthe upper housing so that it flows first past the condenser and thenpast the motor, compressor and receiver for cooling purposes; and amotor driven fan mounted in the lower housing and operative when drivento circulate air in the vehicle body through the lower housing and pastthe evaporator for air cooling purposes.

2. In combination with a refrigerator type vehicle the body of which iselongated and normally closed and has a hatch in the roof thereof; aself-contained air conditioning apparatus comprising: a verticallyelongated housing structure extending downwards through, and mountedremovably in, the hatch and consisting of a comparatively large box-lile upper housing of materially greater size than the hatch positionednormally on the roof and over the hatch, including spaced apart innerand outer side walls in parallel relation with the sides of the carbody, a closed back wall, a closed front wall, a bottom wall and a topwall, having grille equipped substantially full sized openings in itsside walls, embodying a partition between and in parallel relation withsaid side walls and with laterally spaced openings therein, and providedon the central portion of its bottom wall with a depending tubulargasket-surrounded extension shaped conformably to, and fitting snuglyand removably within, the hatch, and a small sized box-like lowerhousing of no greater size than thehatch positioned normally within thevehicle body and beneath the hatch, including four rectangularlyarranged vertical walls, having the upper end thereof connected to thelower end of the extension, and embodying openings in certain of itswalls; a refrigerant compressor mounted in the upper housing between thepartition and the inner side wall and provided with a refrigerant inletand a refrigerant outlet; a motor mounted in the upper housing betweenthe partition and the inner side wall and connected to drive thecompressor; a vertically extending air cooled condenser mounted in theupper housing between the partition and the outer side wall andconnected to the refrigerant outlet of the compressor; a receivermounted in the upper housing between said partition and said inner sidewall and connected to the condenser so as to receive condensedrefrigerant therefrom; vertically extending evaporator mounted in thelower housing; a pair of refrigerant conduits extending through theextension and arranged so that one extends between, and is connected to,the receiver and the evaporator and the other extends between, and isconnected to, the evaporator and the refrigerant inlet of thecompressor; electric fans mounted fixedly in the openings in thepartition and operative when driven to circulate outside air through theupper housing so that it flows first past the condenser and then pastthe motor, compressor and receiver for cooling purposes; and a motordriven fan mounted in the lower housing and operative when driven tocirculate air in the vehicle body through the lower housing and past theevaporator for air cooling purposes.

3. In combination with a refrigerator type vehicle the body of which iselongated and normally closed and has a hatch in the roof thereof; aself-contained air conditioning apparatus comprising: a verticallyelongated housing structure extending downwards through, and mountedremovably in, the hatch and consisting of a comparatively large box-likeupper housing of materially greater size than the hatch positionednormally on the roof and over the hatch, including four rectangularlyarranged vertical walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, having openingsin certain of its vertical walls, and provided on the central portion ofits bottom wall with a depending tubular gasket-surrounded extensionshaped conformably to, and fitting snugly and removably within, thehatch, and a small sized box-like lower housing of no greater size thanthe hatch positioned normally within the vehicle body and beneath thehatch, including spaced apart side walls, a back wall and a front wall,having the upper end thereof connected removably to the lower end of theextension, and embodying large sized openings in its back and frontwalls; a refrigerant compressor mounted in the upper housing andprovided with a refrigerant inlet and a re frigerant outlet; a motormounted in the upper housing and connected to drive the compressor; anair cooled con denser mounted in the upper housing and connected to therefrigerant outlet of the compressor; a receiver mounted in the upperhousing and connected to the condenser so as to receive condensedrefrigerant therefrom; a vertically extending evaporator mounted in thelower housing adjacent to the back wall thereof; a pair of refrigerantconduits extending through the extension and arranged so that oneextends between, and is connected to, the receiver and the evaporatorand the other extends between, and is connected to, the evaporator andthe refrigerant inlet of the compressor; a motor driven fan mounted inthe upper housing and operative when driven to circulate outside airthrough the upper housing and past the condenser, motor, compressor, andreceiver for cooling purposes; and an electric fan mounted fixedly inthe opening in the front wall of the lower housing and operative whendriven to circulate air in the vehicle body so that it flows forwardthrough the lower housing and past the evaporator for air coolingpurposes; and an electric heater disposed in the lower housing andpositioned between the evaporator and said electric fan.

4. In combination with a railway refrigerator car the body of which iselongated and normally closed and has a downwardly tapered hatch in oneof the corner portions of the roof thereof; a self-contained airconditioning apparatus comprising: a vertically elongated housingstructure extending downwards through, and mounted removably in, thehatch and consisting of a comparatively large box-like upper housing ofmaterially greater size than the hatch, positioned normally on the roofof the car and over the hatch, including spaced apart inner and outerside walls in parallel relation with the sides of the car body, a backwall, a front wall and a bottom wall, having openings in its side walls,embodying a partition between, and in parallel relation with, said sidewalls and with an opening therein and provided on the central portion ofits bottom wall with a depending tubular downwardly taperedgasket-surrounded extension shaped conformably to, and fitting snuglyand removably within, the hatch, and a small sized box-like lowerhousing of no greater size than the hatch, positioned normally withinthe car body and beneath the hatch, including spaced apart side walls, aback wall, a front wall, a bottom wall and a top wall, having the upperend thereof connected removably to the lower end of the extension, andembodying large sized openings in the back and front walls; arefrigerant compressor mounted in the upper housing between thepartition and the inner side wall and provided with a refrigerant inletand a refrigerant outlet; a motor mounted in the upper housing betweenthe partition and the inner side wall and connected to drive thecompressor; a vertically extending air cooled condenser mounted in theupper housing between said partition and the other side wall andconnected to the refrigerant outlet of the compressor; a receivermounted in the upper housing between said partition and said inner sidewall and connected to the condenser so as to receive condensedrefrigerant therefrom; a vertically extending evaporator mounted in thelower housing adjacent to the back wall thereof; a pair of refrigerantconduits extending through the extension and arranged so that oneextends between, and is connected to, the receiver and the evaporatorand the other extends between, and is connected to, the evaporator andthe refrigerant inlet of the compressor; an electric fan mounted fixedlyin the aforesaid opening in the partition and operative when driven tocirculate outside air through the upper housing so that it flows firstpast the condenser and then past the motor, compressor and receiver forcooling purposes; and fan mounted fixedly in the opening in the frontwall of the lower housing and operative when driven to circulate air inthe car body and past the evaporator for air cooling purposes.

5. In combination with a railway refrigerator car the body of which iselongated and normally closed and has a rectangular downwardly taperedhatch in one of the corner portions of the roof thereof; aself-contained air conditioning apparatus comprising: a verticallyelongated housing structure extending downwards through, and mountedremovably in, the hatch and consisting of a comparatively large box-likeupper housing of materially greater size than thehatch, positionednormally on the roof and over the hatch, including spaced apart innerand outer side walls in parallel relation with the sides of the carbody, a closed back wall, a closed front wall, a bottom wall andaremovable top wall, having grille-equipped substantially full sizedopenings in its side walls, embodying a partition between, and inparallel relation with, said side walls and with laterally spacedopenings therein, and provided on the central portion of its bottom wallwith a rectangular depending tubular downwardly taperedgasket-surrounded extension shaped conformably to, and fitting snuglyand removably within, the hatch, and a smaller box-like lower housing ofno greater size than the hatch, positioned normally within the car bodyand beneath said hatch, including spaced apart side walls, a back walland a front wall, having the upper end thereof connected removably tothe lower end of the extension, and embodying openings in its back andfront walls; an upstanding attaching device mounted on the top wall. ofthe upper housing, adapted to be connected to an overhead hoist inconnection with mounting and removing of the apparatus, and positionedsubstantially in vertical alignment with the center of mass of theapparatus so that the latter hangs vertically when suspended from saidhoist; a refrigerant compressor mounted in the upper housing between thepartition and the inner side wall and provided with a refrigerant inletand a refrigerant outlet; an electric motor mounted in the upper housingbetween the partition and the inner side wall and connected to drive thecompressor; a vertically extending air cooled condenser mounted in theupper housing between said partition and the outer side wall andconnected to the refrigerant outlet of the compressor; a receivermounted in the upper housing between said partition and said inner sidewall and connected-to the condenser so as to receive condensedrefrigerant therefrom; a vertically extending evaporator mounted in thelower housing adjacent to the back wall thereof; a pair of refrigerantconduits extending through the extension and arranged so that oneextends between, and is connected to, the receiver and the evaporatorand the other extends between, and is connected to, the evaporator andthe refrigerant inlet of the compressor; electric fans mounted fixedlyin the openings in the partition and operative when driven to circulateoutside air through the upper housing so that it flows first past thecondenser and then past the motor, compressor and receiver for coolingpurposes; an electric fan mounted fixedly in the opening .in the frontwall of the lower housing and operative when driven to circulate air inthe car body so that it flows forwards through the lower housing andpast the evaporator for air cooling purposes; and an electric heaterdisposed in the lower housing and positioned between the evaporator andthe last mentioned electric fan.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS"1,791,850 Stickney Feb. 10, 1931 l,992,298 Drysdale Feb. 26, 19352,339,903 Alexander Jan. 25, 1944 2,475,841 Jones July 12, 1949

